1 00:00:14,33 --> 00:00:19,61 OK Welcome brothers and sisters and thank you for being here today it's fantastic 2 00:00:19,62 --> 00:00:20,11 to see such 3 00:00:20,12 --> 00:00:24,91 a crowd and I just want to begin by making sure we all know why we're here this is 4 00:00:24,92 --> 00:00:29,73 a big building so let's make sure we all found the right hall. What do we want. 5 00:00:31,43 --> 00:00:34,28 When do we want it. What do we want 6 00:00:34,96 --> 00:00:39,77 a when do we want it. OK Excellent that's a site and 7 00:00:39,78 --> 00:00:42,73 a sound that should strike fear into the hearts of the one percent. 8 00:00:47,04 --> 00:00:52,30 OK I am delighted to be standing up here today my name is Katie Wilson I am general 9 00:00:52,31 --> 00:00:57,38 secretary of the transit riders Union which thank you. 10 00:01:01,19 --> 00:01:07,58 And we have proudly endorsed the fifteen now campaign. I am going to be your Master 11 00:01:07,59 --> 00:01:09,45 of Ceremonies this afternoon we have 12 00:01:09,46 --> 00:01:13,81 a fantastic lineup of speakers including low wage workers organizers 13 00:01:14,08 --> 00:01:18,33 representatives of labor unions and community organizations people who have been 14 00:01:18,34 --> 00:01:22,53 working for years and in some cases decades to nurture the seeds of 15 00:01:22,54 --> 00:01:28,86 a new working class movement in this city we are now seeing those seeds sprout in 16 00:01:28,87 --> 00:01:31,53 the last three or four decades the left has been taking 17 00:01:31,54 --> 00:01:36,01 a beating we've been on the defensive we've been retreating before the bulldozer of 18 00:01:36,02 --> 00:01:42,92 global capital. But that era is coming to an end thanks. 19 00:01:45,42 --> 00:01:48,55 What we're witnessing right here today is the rebirth of 20 00:01:48,56 --> 00:01:53,16 a left movement in this country and Seattle is at the forefront of this new 21 00:01:53,17 --> 00:01:56,39 movement the election of Shama So I want as 22 00:01:56,40 --> 00:02:01,48 a proudly socialist city council member the election of our new Mayor Ed Murray on 23 00:02:01,49 --> 00:02:06,26 the promise of fifteen dollars an hour this excess in passing 24 00:02:06,38 --> 00:02:10,58 a fifteen dollar an hour ordinance in Sea-Tac and today's kickoff of the fifteen 25 00:02:10,59 --> 00:02:15,46 now campaign in Seattle have put Seattle in the national and even international 26 00:02:15,47 --> 00:02:20,37 spotlight it is the responsibility of each and every one of us here today to 27 00:02:20,37 --> 00:02:24,56 contribute to this campaign to the building of this movement in whatever way we can 28 00:02:24,94 --> 00:02:25,23 this is 29 00:02:25,24 --> 00:02:30,39 a grassroots campaign everyone needs to be involved and meantime start building 30 00:02:30,40 --> 00:02:34,49 within yourselves the determination in the moral reserves that will be necessary to 31 00:02:34,49 --> 00:02:36,92 fight this fight to the finish because it will be 32 00:02:36,92 --> 00:02:39,80 a fight. OK Are you ready to make history 33 00:02:40,22 --> 00:02:46,69 Thad like to introduce our next speaker. 34 00:02:47,73 --> 00:02:52,71 Dave Fry book Dave Bing began his career in the labor movement as 35 00:02:52,72 --> 00:02:54,16 a ferry worker he was 36 00:02:54,17 --> 00:02:58,54 a member and eventually national president of the men's union of the Pacific 37 00:02:58,55 --> 00:02:59,68 I.L.W.U. 38 00:03:00,19 --> 00:03:04,22 Since two thousand and six he has served as executive secretary of the Martin 39 00:03:04,23 --> 00:03:09,03 Luther King Jr County Labor Council under his leadership in two thousand and eleven 40 00:03:09,04 --> 00:03:13,27 the Labor Council called upon it seventy five thousand members to join and support 41 00:03:13,28 --> 00:03:18,80 the Occupy Seattle protesters in Westlake Park. Thank you. 42 00:03:22,59 --> 00:03:26,25 We are fortunate that our county Labor Council is led by someone with this kind of 43 00:03:26,26 --> 00:03:27,90 vision and courage let's give it up for 44 00:03:27,91 --> 00:03:36,11 a day private thank 45 00:03:36,12 --> 00:03:42,92 you. Good afternoon brothers and sisters. See in this room 46 00:03:42,93 --> 00:03:47,45 packed it is very gratifying because this is what this room was built for. 47 00:03:48,70 --> 00:03:55,68 Thank you for start I want to 48 00:03:55,69 --> 00:03:59,21 congratulate council member so on for doing it with 49 00:03:59,41 --> 00:04:05,99 thank. 50 00:04:07,13 --> 00:04:11,22 You and your degree I want to welcome her to the club of representing others. 51 00:04:16,03 --> 00:04:21,57 Because my principle in terms of democratic empowerment is pretty deep it's 52 00:04:21,58 --> 00:04:27,64 a big deal to have others empower you through 53 00:04:27,65 --> 00:04:34,36 a democratic process to represent them that changes things to change things in my 54 00:04:34,37 --> 00:04:41,04 life you know I started like most people I was an activist. I saw things that 55 00:04:41,05 --> 00:04:47,72 weren't fair and I was willing to give my time to do something about it and you 56 00:04:47,73 --> 00:04:50,39 know I like to joke I it's those you know me though I can become 57 00:04:50,40 --> 00:04:57,16 a smart alec you know. Thanks Bob. You know my 58 00:04:57,20 --> 00:05:02,48 my kind of sarcastic response to someone's asking me why I do this as well I got 59 00:05:02,49 --> 00:05:06,56 involved in MAKE IT DOES difference and now I guess I'm part of the problem but. 60 00:05:09,66 --> 00:05:16,64 But I think the point is is that one one transitions from advocacy 61 00:05:17,08 --> 00:05:20,40 to a representational status things change 62 00:05:20,40 --> 00:05:26,84 a bit when I was an advocate when I was an activist The only thing that really 63 00:05:26,85 --> 00:05:33,74 mattered was what I thought what I thought and how I projected myself into the 64 00:05:33,75 --> 00:05:36,76 process when I became 65 00:05:36,77 --> 00:05:42,91 a lech did by others to represent them what I thought changed 66 00:05:43,93 --> 00:05:49,59 it became part of the consideration on how I conduct the business of those I 67 00:05:49,60 --> 00:05:51,33 represent is 68 00:05:51,34 --> 00:05:58,09 a big deal when you're an elected leadership the pressure to actually 69 00:05:58,10 --> 00:06:04,73 move the bar to actually affect change rather than advocate for change is a son of 70 00:06:04,74 --> 00:06:10,91 a gun it's tough and I'll tell you what we need what I need 71 00:06:11,75 --> 00:06:17,34 to keep that that compass is the activism that this room presents. 72 00:06:20,03 --> 00:06:26,93 The old 73 00:06:26,94 --> 00:06:33,81 God bless the labor movement there's no shortage of that so you know 74 00:06:33,90 --> 00:06:39,38 the Xorn all challenges are pretty obvious but we know what they're up to and 75 00:06:39,39 --> 00:06:45,09 what's gratifying right now and what's changed is it's being exposed. 76 00:06:46,30 --> 00:06:53,25 You know years of deregulation and. You know Neal liberal politics new 77 00:06:53,26 --> 00:06:59,57 Democrat AECOM economics is finally coming up with the son of the gods they 78 00:06:59,58 --> 00:07:04,85 finally they just the great recession finally did it just like the Great Depression 79 00:07:05,74 --> 00:07:11,60 finally did him in and they're just can't hide from it anymore and they're on the 80 00:07:11,61 --> 00:07:17,81 defensive I've been doing this for almost thirty years and I kept waiting kept 81 00:07:17,87 --> 00:07:24,19 waiting for the for for them to for it to get here you know you almost despair when 82 00:07:24,20 --> 00:07:28,76 you're doing this stuff you almost think you just it's just not going to happen and 83 00:07:28,77 --> 00:07:35,65 it finally it looks like we've got we've got the opportunity now 84 00:07:35,70 --> 00:07:39,47 thank God here's what I want to have 85 00:07:39,48 --> 00:07:46,39 a serious discussion about we can blow it and we have the left has blown it 86 00:07:46,40 --> 00:07:52,93 in the past. And our biggest challenge our biggest 87 00:07:52,94 --> 00:07:59,89 challenge of course is our internal divisions now maybe this 88 00:08:00,20 --> 00:08:05,80 is supposed to be the environment where we talk about the hard stuff that it that 89 00:08:05,81 --> 00:08:11,37 it takes to make this happen but I think this is absolutely the time where we need 90 00:08:11,38 --> 00:08:18,32 to talk frankly thank you about how we 91 00:08:18,33 --> 00:08:23,55 get this done and I'm going to be critical of everybody in the room with respect 92 00:08:23,78 --> 00:08:30,69 myself included you know that are America's friends of course 93 00:08:31,17 --> 00:08:34,94 see power as a problem any power is 94 00:08:34,95 --> 00:08:41,87 a problem we know this we know that they feel the state the 95 00:08:41,88 --> 00:08:48,85 government is primarily anti you know worker. And in fact this reflects the 96 00:08:48,86 --> 00:08:52,75 fights of one of our founding fathers James Madison the great slave owner who said 97 00:08:53,01 --> 00:08:57,12 the government's job is to protect the minority of the opulent from the majority 98 00:09:00,23 --> 00:09:06,63 so what we then when we enter power when we accept 99 00:09:06,69 --> 00:09:13,45 elected representational position when we sit on the mayor's 100 00:09:13,51 --> 00:09:19,76 advisory committee on the minimum wage as myself and council member SWAT are 101 00:09:20,26 --> 00:09:27,10 we're subject to criticism and in fact the criticism has 102 00:09:27,11 --> 00:09:31,33 been quite rich. Let me read 103 00:09:31,34 --> 00:09:38,31 a couple quotes. This is from AIG an orchestra writer 104 00:09:38,35 --> 00:09:42,31 and you know this is good stuff this is the kind of stuff we need to really 105 00:09:42,32 --> 00:09:49,13 consider with respect council member I quote We will find ourselves 106 00:09:49,14 --> 00:09:54,77 betrayed isolated and crust if we don't remain independent of this one so want camp 107 00:09:55,71 --> 00:10:02,38 and the progressive union bureaucrats and social entrepreneur us who backed her 108 00:10:02,39 --> 00:10:08,28 election comrades are trying to maintain their and Arcus credentials by flippantly 109 00:10:08,32 --> 00:10:12,79 dismissing Schama as just another progressive Democrat. 110 00:10:14,25 --> 00:10:19,33 Was there's more on labor the 111 00:10:20,87 --> 00:10:25,90 Labor leadership is tied at the hip to the Democratic Party. 112 00:10:28,27 --> 00:10:33,46 Labor labor unions. I can take it. 113 00:10:36,85 --> 00:10:41,72 Labor unions bring out tens of thousands of foot soldiers for the Democratic Party 114 00:10:41,73 --> 00:10:45,68 to campaign for them they give them hundreds of thousands of dollars 115 00:10:45,72 --> 00:10:49,39 unquestioningly on challengingly and uncritically. 116 00:10:58,82 --> 00:11:05,77 So let's look at. What we do in the face of all this criticism because 117 00:11:06,05 --> 00:11:11,34 of course where we're sitting today is owned by organized labor but 118 00:11:13,46 --> 00:11:17,23 this is the syllabi is brought to you by the labor movement 119 00:11:17,93 --> 00:11:24,37 cause. Thank you 120 00:11:25,08 --> 00:11:28,60 thank you it's brought to you by bureaucrats like me. 121 00:11:33,75 --> 00:11:37,65 So what so what are our let's talk about labor for 122 00:11:37,66 --> 00:11:43,23 a second what are our organizational challenges please I know the list is long 123 00:11:45,26 --> 00:11:46,10 we actually represent 124 00:11:46,11 --> 00:11:51,39 a membership that reflects the electorate of the country from Tea Partiers to an 125 00:11:51,40 --> 00:11:57,04 archivist says I was elected by those people to represent them 126 00:11:58,19 --> 00:12:02,33 thankfully our activists core leans more to the left. 127 00:12:05,04 --> 00:12:10,42 Our bureaucratic structures are historically decentralized right now in Seattle the 128 00:12:10,43 --> 00:12:17,28 Labor movement of the. W T O campaign campaign and marches does not 129 00:12:17,29 --> 00:12:22,64 exist in Seattle at this time we are not centralized in the Central Labor Council 130 00:12:23,38 --> 00:12:29,29 an organization that was formed years ago bureaucratic institution 131 00:12:29,86 --> 00:12:36,48 to minimize our differences so we can better project our power that's 132 00:12:36,49 --> 00:12:43,09 a primary purpose that's my job description minimize our differences so we can 133 00:12:43,10 --> 00:12:46,100 project our power let me give you an example of hard differences got in the way 134 00:12:47,74 --> 00:12:51,47 folks have heard of the Employee Free Choice Act there was 135 00:12:51,48 --> 00:12:56,100 a time not so long ago when labor leaders were talking about when the Employee Free 136 00:12:57,01 --> 00:13:03,30 Choice Act got got passed which was an attempt in Congress too 137 00:13:03,31 --> 00:13:09,57 actually. Restore the collective bargaining rights of workers because as anyone 138 00:13:09,58 --> 00:13:13,29 knows and most of you do in this room we really don't have collective bargaining 139 00:13:13,30 --> 00:13:20,05 rights in this country we thought we thought that that was going to 140 00:13:20,06 --> 00:13:25,72 happen it was so obvious that the need was there the problem was the campaign that 141 00:13:25,73 --> 00:13:31,58 we put together upper leadership in the A.F.L.-CIO didn't even listen to what they 142 00:13:31,59 --> 00:13:37,75 felt was grassroots leaders like me that's their little glass house 143 00:13:39,46 --> 00:13:44,58 that some of the elements of that campaign weren't going to resonate with the 144 00:13:44,59 --> 00:13:49,96 workers that are in this room that the other side was going to be able to take 145 00:13:49,100 --> 00:13:55,83 elements of that campaign and defeat us from within Now this is just Dave's view 146 00:13:55,84 --> 00:14:00,43 for what it's worth but in my view that's what happened that was 147 00:14:00,44 --> 00:14:06,96 a large part of the bad guys campaign to defeat of that campaign and 148 00:14:06,97 --> 00:14:10,39 our echo chamber approach to putting together 149 00:14:10,40 --> 00:14:16,53 a campaign in organizations to push something to make things better so what did we 150 00:14:16,54 --> 00:14:23,51 get to do we got to be very upset and very ficta my eyes. And very outraged 151 00:14:24,37 --> 00:14:30,82 and also very left with no results nothing so 152 00:14:31,25 --> 00:14:37,76 in spite of our internal. Division us we have an 153 00:14:37,77 --> 00:14:44,13 opportunity here not to fret about them but to recognize them 154 00:14:44,69 --> 00:14:51,35 to build off of them so that our power is seamless that's the hard 155 00:14:51,36 --> 00:14:56,96 work of leadership that's the point of electing leadership 156 00:14:59,04 --> 00:15:05,60 because and on top of the brilliant and I will use their 157 00:15:05,61 --> 00:15:12,15 term marketing of this fifteen dollar campaign the messaging that is brilliant in 158 00:15:12,16 --> 00:15:18,78 this campaign. The street heat that this movement is building that is 159 00:15:18,79 --> 00:15:23,84 essential to keep us on task and to keep them honest what it no know what's going 160 00:15:23,85 --> 00:15:30,74 on we also absolutely was. It what the inside game is and what they're doing 161 00:15:31,00 --> 00:15:35,56 the best way to keep backroom deals from being cut is to keep the light on it used 162 00:15:35,57 --> 00:15:42,42 to make sure thank you. 163 00:15:45,76 --> 00:15:50,62 Is to make sure that the people that have been elected to represent you know what 164 00:15:50,63 --> 00:15:54,63 they're doing and are accountable to the rank and file. 165 00:15:57,69 --> 00:16:03,45 Thank you. So let me end with this. 166 00:16:05,65 --> 00:16:07,75 This is a piece that was written there's been 167 00:16:07,76 --> 00:16:14,46 a lot written out there on the left and the socialist community about what just 168 00:16:14,47 --> 00:16:15,57 happened here this is 169 00:16:15,58 --> 00:16:22,40 a big deal and I was leaving today and and I told my wife to wish me luck and she 170 00:16:22,41 --> 00:16:26,41 said Are you worried I said no I'm not that worried about giving 171 00:16:26,43 --> 00:16:27,97 a speech never saw 172 00:16:27,98 --> 00:16:34,74 a microphone I did want to talk to. But this is getting really important I 173 00:16:34,74 --> 00:16:40,73 told her this is this is it I told 174 00:16:40,74 --> 00:16:42,70 a group the other day that's working on 175 00:16:42,71 --> 00:16:49,29 a very vital campaign. That I normally would be committing labor council 176 00:16:49,30 --> 00:16:55,18 resources to that we can help them this is the most important thing 177 00:16:56,28 --> 00:17:02,07 that my organization will be working on. Thank you 178 00:17:02,08 --> 00:17:06,12 thank you sir I want to I want to read 179 00:17:06,13 --> 00:17:09,86 a piece from someone I know well haven't always seen eye to eye with always 180 00:17:09,87 --> 00:17:14,98 appreciated her intellect and it was about the unprecedented collaboration between 181 00:17:14,99 --> 00:17:21,96 the source different social groups and in town in vessel action. And she 182 00:17:21,97 --> 00:17:28,74 wrote still after all the success sectarianism putting one's political 183 00:17:28,75 --> 00:17:32,57 party above the interest of the class will be 184 00:17:32,58 --> 00:17:39,42 a challenge throughout the campaign social Saul turn to downplay their 185 00:17:39,43 --> 00:17:44,20 socialist endorsements favoring the greens even though this party promotes the 186 00:17:44,21 --> 00:17:49,74 illusion that capitalism can be made kinder and gentler on the other on the other 187 00:17:49,75 --> 00:17:55,56 extreme the Socialist Workers Party mostly ignored indorsements from the Freedom 188 00:17:55,57 --> 00:17:59,58 socialists and castigated council member still so want is 189 00:17:59,58 --> 00:18:05,99 a sellout rather than offering constructive criticism engagement whether the 190 00:18:05,99 --> 00:18:06,83 I.S.O. 191 00:18:07,03 --> 00:18:12,83 Who endorsed in this campaign as I understand somewhat unprecedently will endorse 192 00:18:12,84 --> 00:18:18,53 future socialist campaigns remains to be seen yet clearly the time is right for 193 00:18:18,54 --> 00:18:23,92 anti-capitalists electorial alliances. And the potential for 194 00:18:23,93 --> 00:18:30,35 a quantum leap forward is there if the left. To respectfully 195 00:18:30,39 --> 00:18:36,64 respect each other and work together Thank you. 196 00:18:38,16 --> 00:18:39,61 Let's go get them THANK YOU 197 00:18:39,92 --> 00:18:46,73 THANK MY would 198 00:18:46,74 --> 00:18:48,27 like to introduce our D. 199 00:18:48,28 --> 00:18:54,34 Mohammad Abi Mohamed from the Somali American Public Affairs Council which has 200 00:18:54,38 --> 00:18:58,75 endorsed the fifty now campaign he is an organizer and 201 00:18:58,76 --> 00:19:02,71 a leader in the Somali and East African communities in King County and he played 202 00:19:02,72 --> 00:19:07,54 a key role with working Washington in the fight for fifteen in Sea-Tac 203 00:19:07,99 --> 00:19:14,53 thank you we are here today to support the fifteen dollar 204 00:19:14,54 --> 00:19:20,17 campaign just like we did in Scitech on December we march from Sea-Tac to Seattle 205 00:19:20,52 --> 00:19:26,52 to demand the fifteen dollars livable which. Allowed clear and today 206 00:19:27,43 --> 00:19:33,27 to make it to more loud and we will never be invincible again. I'm here to support 207 00:19:33,28 --> 00:19:38,58 the fifteen dollar campaign not only I care for the low wage war cost but also I 208 00:19:38,59 --> 00:19:44,06 care for shallow businesses if what cost half money business will have customers 209 00:19:44,20 --> 00:19:47,20 simple logic. It too small 210 00:19:47,21 --> 00:19:51,51 a little wrong to see hardworking person who works more than forty hours 211 00:19:51,55 --> 00:19:58,11 a week to go for food bank for assistance it is morally wrong an economically wrong 212 00:19:58,30 --> 00:20:04,78 to see hard working families who are more than forty hours. Under still on food 213 00:20:04,79 --> 00:20:10,91 stamps this kind of inequality destroys the moral fiber of our society. 214 00:20:16,11 --> 00:20:22,85 I'm here today because I care Seattle my new home after I came from the war torn 215 00:20:22,86 --> 00:20:29,72 country in Somalia I don't want to see Seattle to be another Zimbabwe I don't want 216 00:20:29,73 --> 00:20:35,13 to see shallow to be like South Africa where my own walk us are killed by police 217 00:20:35,32 --> 00:20:36,98 just because they demanded 218 00:20:37,02 --> 00:20:44,02 a wagering. We will never. Get we would love we 219 00:20:44,03 --> 00:20:44,83 will never leave 220 00:20:44,87 --> 00:20:49,10 a single stone on top and until we get the fifteen dollars in Seattle 221 00:20:49,51 --> 00:20:59,84 thank 222 00:20:59,85 --> 00:21:05,65 you let us let us all going to use block by block street by street to make sure of 223 00:21:05,66 --> 00:21:10,56 that the fifteen dollars will be the dream of every hard to walk in family in 224 00:21:10,57 --> 00:21:13,01 Seattle thank you very much thank you 225 00:21:13,22 --> 00:21:20,18 thank you so we all know that 226 00:21:20,33 --> 00:21:26,05 the eyes of the nation are on Seattle right now but the fact is that the worlds are 227 00:21:26,06 --> 00:21:31,20 also on Seattle and when we win fifteen dollars an hour this year there will be 228 00:21:31,21 --> 00:21:37,73 reverberations around the world our next speaker is Joe Hagan Joe Higgins. 229 00:21:39,18 --> 00:21:44,98 Thanks Joe Hagan's has spent many years serving in the Irish parliament he is 230 00:21:44,99 --> 00:21:47,60 a member of the Socialist Party of Ireland which is 231 00:21:47,61 --> 00:21:52,22 a sister organization to Socialist Alternative and in two thousand and nine to two 232 00:21:52,23 --> 00:21:56,76 thousand the latter he was also the first Socialist Party member of the European 233 00:21:56,77 --> 00:21:58,47 Parliament welcome to 234 00:21:59,03 --> 00:22:15,28 thank 235 00:22:15,29 --> 00:22:22,19 us. Chairwoman brothers and sisters dear friends it is truly 236 00:22:22,20 --> 00:22:24,98 a privilege to have problem for and 237 00:22:24,99 --> 00:22:29,43 a half thousand miles from Ireland to be with you here today 238 00:22:29,47 --> 00:22:32,61 thought the 239 00:22:32,62 --> 00:22:39,00 old bring 240 00:22:39,01 --> 00:22:44,26 solidarity from Socialist Party activists in Ireland Northern Ireland and the south 241 00:22:44,91 --> 00:22:49,48 from the Committee for workers international from fellow activists in the anti 242 00:22:49,49 --> 00:22:55,92 austerity Alliance in Ireland which was set up to fight the vicious austerity 243 00:22:55,93 --> 00:23:02,58 program which after the crash of the property bubble in Ireland five years ago 244 00:23:03,39 --> 00:23:09,62 places the entirety of the bad and deaths of the sharks of the European financial 245 00:23:09,63 --> 00:23:16,42 markets and of Irish developers onto the shoulders of working people in Ireland. 246 00:23:20,29 --> 00:23:27,20 Throughout the whole of southern Europe from Ireland through poor to go 247 00:23:27,68 --> 00:23:32,80 to Spain and across to Greece there is 248 00:23:32,85 --> 00:23:39,32 a known preset entity full frontal assault on the livelihoods and living 249 00:23:39,33 --> 00:23:45,78 standards of tens of millions of workers and on the working class generally 250 00:23:46,92 --> 00:23:53,19 savage cuts in the wages of public sector workers for Oceans 251 00:23:53,20 --> 00:24:00,05 a tax on the pensions of workers public and private cuts in 252 00:24:00,06 --> 00:24:03,60 public services such as health and education 253 00:24:04,70 --> 00:24:11,23 a ROFFT of new taxes and increases in existing taxes taking 254 00:24:11,24 --> 00:24:17,55 tens of billions of euros from the pockets of workers of 255 00:24:17,56 --> 00:24:23,72 pensioners the young employed and the poor. And all this 256 00:24:24,52 --> 00:24:31,48 to shun those tens of billions to the bankers and bond holders in the 257 00:24:31,49 --> 00:24:37,16 European financial markets to save their system from the 258 00:24:37,17 --> 00:24:44,12 consequences of their wild speculation and profiteering in the ten to fifteen 259 00:24:44,13 --> 00:24:49,18 years prior to the financial crisis and causing dark financial crisis. 260 00:24:50,81 --> 00:24:57,55 OK Is it any wonder then that when fast food 261 00:24:57,56 --> 00:25:01,39 workers here in the United States just about 262 00:25:01,40 --> 00:25:08,39 a year ago aerobically stood up for economic justice workers throughout Ireland 263 00:25:09,02 --> 00:25:14,93 and throughout Europe took great notice and applauded the 264 00:25:14,94 --> 00:25:21,11 old gains this background 265 00:25:21,76 --> 00:25:26,81 is it any wonder that the activists throughout the European labor movement on the 266 00:25:26,82 --> 00:25:33,73 left sheared to the rafters when the ballot for fifteen dollars was victorious in 267 00:25:33,74 --> 00:25:36,14 Sea-Tac hand when 268 00:25:36,15 --> 00:25:42,57 a marvelous campaign for fifteen and for economic and social justice across all 269 00:25:42,58 --> 00:25:48,99 forms proposed into the on welcoming establishment of Seattle City Council 270 00:25:49,21 --> 00:25:54,26 social photonic the thank you 271 00:25:54,27 --> 00:26:02,23 OK 272 00:26:02,24 --> 00:26:08,73 your friends I want you to know that you struggles your campaigns. 273 00:26:09,30 --> 00:26:16,05 Your mobilization here in Seattle and in the United States are inspirational to 274 00:26:16,06 --> 00:26:22,34 workers in Europe and indeed all over the world including Latin America where I 275 00:26:22,35 --> 00:26:26,24 know from associates that these struggles are making 276 00:26:26,28 --> 00:26:37,62 a tremendous impression the old 277 00:26:37,63 --> 00:26:44,33 and among the old left and working class people and activists outside 278 00:26:44,39 --> 00:26:51,14 of the United States these movements and these successes are all the 279 00:26:51,15 --> 00:26:57,29 more applauded because they take place in the very heart plunder world calculus 280 00:26:57,30 --> 00:26:59,12 limits out of the 281 00:26:59,13 --> 00:27:07,99 open 282 00:27:08,00 --> 00:27:14,54 by the way. Speaking of populism. I was 283 00:27:14,55 --> 00:27:20,28 astounded to be told Jew ring this visit of mine to the United States that the 284 00:27:20,29 --> 00:27:27,07 second biggest corporation on the globe Wal-Mart in 285 00:27:27,08 --> 00:27:33,38 Ohio has food collection bins and stuff brooms. At Thanksgiving 286 00:27:34,55 --> 00:27:40,48 not for the indigent and the homeless but for its own workers who might maintains 287 00:27:40,49 --> 00:27:47,48 on poverty wages. So not 288 00:27:47,50 --> 00:27:53,57 only do they make super profits on the backs of workers through systematic wage 289 00:27:53,61 --> 00:27:59,94 exploitation. But now they turned the workers into institutionalized 290 00:28:00,08 --> 00:28:01,20 bankers what 291 00:28:01,21 --> 00:28:13,26 a criminal system that is the only 292 00:28:13,38 --> 00:28:15,41 road those who say says we must look 293 00:28:15,45 --> 00:28:22,07 a little deeper it is not just greed So what drives Wal-Mart's low 294 00:28:22,08 --> 00:28:28,30 wages why did Boeing seek to crush the pension rights of workers here in Seattle. 295 00:28:30,65 --> 00:28:37,63 It is to maintain and increase private profits for their major shareholders 296 00:28:38,28 --> 00:28:45,02 which profits dig into the pockets of working people and when working people demand 297 00:28:45,08 --> 00:28:51,03 just wages that threatens those profits for the major institutionalize and other 298 00:28:51,04 --> 00:28:57,63 shareholders and that is why there is this to the end why in challenging poverty 299 00:28:57,64 --> 00:29:03,64 wages we therefore have to challenge the basis of the capitalist system itself the 300 00:29:03,65 --> 00:29:12,65 owner 301 00:29:12,74 --> 00:29:19,24 we fight we fight for alternatives to that system which is to say production 302 00:29:19,82 --> 00:29:20,87 no more for 303 00:29:20,88 --> 00:29:25,98 a patient's private profits of Wall Street and corporate America and corporate 304 00:29:25,99 --> 00:29:32,14 Europe. Production for the benefit of the majority of society and to protect our 305 00:29:32,15 --> 00:29:34,72 environment and to give it decent and 306 00:29:34,73 --> 00:29:38,93 a dignified life to every human being which isn't totally fucked 307 00:29:38,94 --> 00:29:49,21 the 308 00:29:49,22 --> 00:30:01,76 only 309 00:30:02,37 --> 00:30:08,15 respectfully submit in our discussions there alongside marvelous campaigns like 310 00:30:08,16 --> 00:30:13,93 this whether here or elsewhere we do need to raise and to be game to discuss the 311 00:30:13,94 --> 00:30:19,34 need for democratic public ownership and control over big financial because 312 00:30:19,60 --> 00:30:24,62 the at the how 313 00:30:24,63 --> 00:30:31,45 open the coasts this is the very system 314 00:30:32,08 --> 00:30:37,64 Dr political establishment in Europe and the politicians of the Republican and 315 00:30:37,65 --> 00:30:44,53 Democratic Parties uphold and ensuring their poor upholding on ensuring the culling 316 00:30:44,54 --> 00:30:51,09 of the exploitation that goes along with it and in Europe it is 317 00:30:51,10 --> 00:30:57,46 not just now the traditional right wing parties that are bailing out the bankers 318 00:30:57,47 --> 00:31:03,49 and bondholders on the backs of the working class but shamefully 319 00:31:04,28 --> 00:31:09,84 criminally The Labor Party's under social democratic parties founded 320 00:31:09,85 --> 00:31:13,13 a hundred years ago and more by working people through 321 00:31:13,14 --> 00:31:19,16 a men's soccer. They now have all gone over to the camp of New York liberalism. 322 00:31:21,73 --> 00:31:27,97 They are participating in governments are have gone all over Europe in coalition 323 00:31:27,98 --> 00:31:34,29 governments implementing vicious austerity programs to rescue finance capital some 324 00:31:34,52 --> 00:31:41,48 from its crisis that is why not only now in the United States but in Europe also 325 00:31:42,16 --> 00:31:48,85 we have an historic responsibility to discourse to begin to discuss how do we 326 00:31:48,86 --> 00:31:54,91 fill this political void through the constructions of new must parties of the 327 00:31:54,92 --> 00:32:01,64 working class but this time parties that are under the direct democratic 328 00:32:01,65 --> 00:32:07,69 control of their working class members. And with elected 329 00:32:07,70 --> 00:32:13,80 representatives not making big careers at the expense of the working class but 330 00:32:13,81 --> 00:32:18,24 living on the average industrial wage on industrial walk I saw the 331 00:32:18,25 --> 00:32:35,59 old 332 00:32:35,60 --> 00:32:42,33 dear friends to sum up and to conclude we are under pressure in 333 00:32:42,34 --> 00:32:48,24 Ireland we are under pressure all over Europe as working class people 334 00:32:49,67 --> 00:32:55,93 we have not yet on mass found the leadership the working class people deserve 335 00:32:56,64 --> 00:33:03,25 which is to say at this point there is no trucking there is no compromise with 336 00:33:03,26 --> 00:33:09,93 austerity we have to stand on compromising late. For the more 337 00:33:09,94 --> 00:33:13,72 bailouts of the bankers of the financial institution go 338 00:33:13,73 --> 00:33:20,60 OK 339 00:33:20,61 --> 00:33:27,31 we have to say the tens of billions that they rock to go up in bad debt 340 00:33:27,73 --> 00:33:33,03 that is not how tax it is their debt and our people must not pay those debts oh 341 00:33:33,04 --> 00:33:39,63 OK we face the 342 00:33:39,64 --> 00:33:46,19 OK we face speak challenges but together we face those 343 00:33:46,20 --> 00:33:52,88 challenges I am confident that working class people will rise to those 344 00:33:52,89 --> 00:33:59,79 challenges because you are proving to do here in Seattle with such dramatic 345 00:33:59,83 --> 00:34:06,71 effect I wish you every success in the fight for fifteen and 346 00:34:06,75 --> 00:34:13,23 also alongside that and into the future in the related even bigger fight 347 00:34:14,15 --> 00:34:14,87 to create 348 00:34:14,88 --> 00:34:20,52 a society on the basis of democratic socialist policies. Where human beings can 349 00:34:20,53 --> 00:34:25,58 live in dignity where there is care for the elderly under sick workers 350 00:34:25,59 --> 00:34:31,18 a future for the youth were there is protection for our ecology and our environment 351 00:34:31,88 --> 00:34:38,80 all over the fall that the old that is possible 352 00:34:39,61 --> 00:34:46,35 all that is possible when working people take Democratic control of these 353 00:34:46,36 --> 00:34:53,12 resources and elimination in the nightmare of private greed on the horrors the call 354 00:34:53,13 --> 00:34:59,57 with it throughout our world we can then begin to build the type of society that we 355 00:34:59,58 --> 00:35:04,95 all want for ourselves for our children and for future generations that is what we 356 00:35:04,96 --> 00:35:10,11 are about and it is beginning very much with fifteen so let us go forward to 357 00:35:10,12 --> 00:35:16,90 victory for fifteen this year in Seattle under speakers have said that will result 358 00:35:17,39 --> 00:35:22,47 from one corner of Europe to the next and right around the world to Latin America 359 00:35:22,48 --> 00:35:28,78 and Africa because it means that here in the very heartland of capitalism itself on 360 00:35:28,79 --> 00:35:34,88 the world basis what can cost people or show that it can be told and we will all 361 00:35:34,92 --> 00:35:40,30 benefit massively and be inspired by that and emulate that in our own countries 362 00:35:41,02 --> 00:35:43,60 Thank 363 00:35:43,61 --> 00:35:53,74 you 364 00:35:53,75 --> 00:35:58,21 I struggle is about more than money we have something they don't have we have 365 00:35:58,22 --> 00:36:00,99 conviction we have solidarity and we have 366 00:36:01,00 --> 00:36:06,83 a right and we have history on our side we also have Seattle's newly minted 367 00:36:06,84 --> 00:36:12,64 socialist city council member the first in modern history channels I want the 368 00:36:12,65 --> 00:36:18,83 oath. 369 00:36:18,86 --> 00:36:25,90 THANK 370 00:36:25,91 --> 00:36:26,78 YOU 371 00:36:26,79 --> 00:36:33,87 THANK 372 00:36:33,88 --> 00:36:38,03 YOU THANK YOU. 373 00:36:41,05 --> 00:36:46,92 My brothers and sisters when when people stick around in 374 00:36:46,93 --> 00:36:50,59 a really warm room for over two hours on 375 00:36:50,60 --> 00:36:56,87 a Sunday afternoon and low wage workers and retirees on fixed income 376 00:36:57,43 --> 00:36:59,21 make donations to 377 00:36:59,21 --> 00:37:08,81 a working class campaign we know we have hope. Thank 378 00:37:08,82 --> 00:37:15,39 you OK and I really appreciate you sticking around to listen to my words as 379 00:37:15,40 --> 00:37:21,74 well and I want to start first by thanking Katy Wilson for. 380 00:37:22,84 --> 00:37:29,78 Being with you thank you thank you. 381 00:37:30,91 --> 00:37:36,56 And for all the brilliant activism that the transit riders Union has done to bring 382 00:37:36,57 --> 00:37:41,54 together people who are highlighting the injustice the transit injustice that is 383 00:37:41,55 --> 00:37:46,84 happening in our city. I also want to thank I just P.R. 384 00:37:46,85 --> 00:37:49,80 Who you just heard from she talked about herself as 385 00:37:50,41 --> 00:37:53,01 a member of Socialist Alternative and she was 386 00:37:53,02 --> 00:37:56,95 a volunteer coordinator for our campaign last year what she did not tell you about 387 00:37:56,96 --> 00:37:59,18 herself is that she is also 388 00:37:59,37 --> 00:38:05,60 a fully qualified climate scientist but for some curious reason she chooses to 389 00:38:05,61 --> 00:38:12,23 spend her time making very very very little money as an activist. The 390 00:38:12,24 --> 00:38:14,14 it 391 00:38:14,15 --> 00:38:20,94 you. 392 00:38:22,66 --> 00:38:27,01 I want to thank everybody who worked on our campaign last year Socialist 393 00:38:27,02 --> 00:38:31,56 Alternative people who aren't members of socialist alternative but who clearly 394 00:38:31,60 --> 00:38:38,19 understand the need for solidarity they need to be together to organize 395 00:38:38,85 --> 00:38:45,50 ourselves I want to thank the airport workers the fast food workers hotel workers 396 00:38:45,92 --> 00:38:49,73 I want to thank Jordan against for being here and bringing us an international 397 00:38:49,74 --> 00:38:51,38 message of solidarity I 398 00:38:51,39 --> 00:38:57,03 if 399 00:38:57,14 --> 00:39:03,91 you if. I like your day five of our brother 400 00:39:03,92 --> 00:39:10,83 days this hall was built for exactly like this and how many decades has 401 00:39:10,84 --> 00:39:16,35 it been that we haven't had this entire generations have seen 402 00:39:16,39 --> 00:39:21,25 a plunge India standards of living but this is not just about standards of living 403 00:39:21,41 --> 00:39:27,07 it is about dignity in existence and we are fighting for that very dignity here 404 00:39:27,08 --> 00:39:34,02 today and we are here to take this movement forward and I think we all know 405 00:39:34,06 --> 00:39:40,24 how how incredibly different today is this is January twenty fourth 406 00:39:40,86 --> 00:39:45,03 just think of where we were on January twenty third. We ran 407 00:39:45,04 --> 00:39:50,46 a campaign. You know for the state house in twenty two all we were calling for 408 00:39:50,47 --> 00:39:54,59 fifteen dollars an hour then we were talking about taxing millionaires we were 409 00:39:54,60 --> 00:39:59,71 talking about the need for affordable housing and rent control and they called us 410 00:39:59,72 --> 00:40:04,96 stupid they said these crazy socialist state they're so out of touch they don't 411 00:40:04,97 --> 00:40:11,73 know what's going on I invite the corporate media to look at us today. I 412 00:40:11,74 --> 00:40:20,63 am 413 00:40:20,63 --> 00:40:27,11 . When we say minimum wage we mean all workers are 414 00:40:27,12 --> 00:40:33,79 universal living wage is what we're fighting for. And I am 415 00:40:34,38 --> 00:40:39,88 you know I agree with you again I'm going to agree with brother Damon also maybe 416 00:40:39,89 --> 00:40:40,32 disagree 417 00:40:40,33 --> 00:40:47,80 a little bit but I agree that while we are just and correctly celebrating 418 00:40:47,81 --> 00:40:53,60 this moment because remember this is not just about celebrating in an empty manner 419 00:40:53,83 --> 00:41:00,79 this celebration forces us to recognize the latent power in the 420 00:41:00,80 --> 00:41:07,73 working class because it is all too easy all too easy to get demoralized and feel 421 00:41:07,73 --> 00:41:12,56 disempowered and feel like nothing can change so by God we should be celebrating 422 00:41:12,57 --> 00:41:15,54 this moment thank you 423 00:41:15,55 --> 00:41:26,27 OK 424 00:41:26,27 --> 00:41:29,32 . This is also 425 00:41:29,48 --> 00:41:34,14 a moment for recognizing what we are up against 426 00:41:35,18 --> 00:41:41,97 corporations business in general. Are already talking to government officials 427 00:41:42,39 --> 00:41:49,38 and also talking to the not so facial spokespeople of the government they don't 428 00:41:49,39 --> 00:41:53,33 like this at all they don't like having to engage in 429 00:41:53,34 --> 00:41:59,54 a discussion about fifteen dollars an hour but you are forcing them to do it. I 430 00:41:59,55 --> 00:42:06,50 am. But that's step 431 00:42:06,51 --> 00:42:11,30 one you force them to come to the table but that's not going to be enough because 432 00:42:11,31 --> 00:42:17,09 now they will start talking and they have already started talking about phasing it 433 00:42:17,10 --> 00:42:19,42 in over many many years. 434 00:42:23,92 --> 00:42:30,79 What should our response be we have to say minimum wage has reduced in value over 435 00:42:30,83 --> 00:42:36,69 three decades incomes to the ninety nine percent have stagnated one of those have 436 00:42:36,70 --> 00:42:41,00 been phased right into poverty you don't want any more phasing in the 437 00:42:41,01 --> 00:42:50,72 old 438 00:42:50,72 --> 00:42:53,93 . And as 439 00:42:53,94 --> 00:43:01,71 a city council member. Thank 440 00:43:01,72 --> 00:43:08,65 you. I have. The pleasure of talking to business 441 00:43:08,87 --> 00:43:15,73 people. As I've said before that isn't important to us because I'm 442 00:43:15,74 --> 00:43:22,16 representing our interests when I go there but they have said to me oh are you sure 443 00:43:22,17 --> 00:43:28,37 workers want fifteen. Zero and what I am. 444 00:43:31,21 --> 00:43:33,98 They are and. 445 00:43:38,15 --> 00:43:40,55 You know I have to say as 446 00:43:40,56 --> 00:43:47,50 a labor activist so much joy. They say to me oh are 447 00:43:47,51 --> 00:43:53,78 you sure workers one fifteen numbers have no meaning don't they want comprehensive 448 00:43:53,79 --> 00:43:57,45 solutions don't they want health care education and housing. 449 00:44:04,08 --> 00:44:09,33 But one business stands in front of you and says fifteen has no meaning don't 450 00:44:09,34 --> 00:44:15,35 workers want other things that that should be challenged by us as disingenuous and 451 00:44:15,36 --> 00:44:21,93 dishonest what I say to them is I don't know what you are talking about 452 00:44:22,11 --> 00:44:25,90 because the low wage workers who are going to benefit from fifteen have none of 453 00:44:25,91 --> 00:44:32,20 these things. Are you pretending that you're going to give them health care 454 00:44:32,21 --> 00:44:36,46 interest of fifteen. Are you pretend that you're going to increase funding for 455 00:44:36,47 --> 00:44:43,33 public education and you know fifteen and if you don't understand that 456 00:44:43,34 --> 00:44:47,08 fifteen has meaning then try living for 457 00:44:47,09 --> 00:44:52,82 a week on fifteen and even that is going to be hard for many of the elite 458 00:44:57,14 --> 00:45:04,12 they will bring out small businesses but really learn our lesson from right 459 00:45:04,13 --> 00:45:11,00 we don't need to go too far back in history we saw in see. That there were many not 460 00:45:11,01 --> 00:45:16,02 so small businesses raiding small businesses how many of you have. 461 00:45:20,73 --> 00:45:21,82 This was of this was 462 00:45:21,83 --> 00:45:28,31 a business that was very very vocal. And the owner. 463 00:45:29,34 --> 00:45:33,66 To tears at the hearing saying he's going to have to you know all these workers 464 00:45:33,67 --> 00:45:40,57 would be destitute but these are not small businesses these are you know very 465 00:45:40,64 --> 00:45:45,05 big sized businesses they're not McDonald's but. There is 466 00:45:45,06 --> 00:45:50,99 a huge number of big businesses that are going to pull out the small business card 467 00:45:51,24 --> 00:45:56,84 in order to discourage you from your moral truck in order to make you feel like 468 00:45:56,95 --> 00:45:59,58 you're somehow being unjust by asking for 469 00:45:59,59 --> 00:46:04,87 a decent standard of living for yourself and yes it is true that genuinely small 470 00:46:04,88 --> 00:46:10,55 businesses are getting wiped out but that is not because workers are being paid too 471 00:46:10,56 --> 00:46:15,88 much that's because that is in the nature of capitalist system to crush small 472 00:46:15,89 --> 00:46:22,01 businesses and get all of the above the shit big business you 473 00:46:22,02 --> 00:46:29,72 own 474 00:46:29,72 --> 00:46:36,71 . Capitalism overwhelmingly sets up small businesses for failure and allows big 475 00:46:36,72 --> 00:46:42,20 business to devour the economy the reason small businesses are feeling is because 476 00:46:42,21 --> 00:46:48,91 of the Walmart isolation of our nation because of Amazon Starbucks and all the 477 00:46:48,92 --> 00:46:55,56 fast food corporations but brothers and sisters here is the bottom line the 478 00:46:55,56 --> 00:47:02,02 cost of living to a worker in a small business is no different than for 479 00:47:02,02 --> 00:47:03,34 a McDonald's worker 480 00:47:03,47 --> 00:47:09,69 a small business cannot be protected on the backs of workers. 481 00:47:10,67 --> 00:47:16,40 The government should big business in order to support small businesses and small 482 00:47:16,41 --> 00:47:20,35 businesses and working people to stick to your schtick together to fight for your 483 00:47:20,36 --> 00:47:27,16 thank you I was 484 00:47:27,17 --> 00:47:30,81 away if you 485 00:47:30,82 --> 00:47:37,56 only get fifteen we can fight 486 00:47:37,57 --> 00:47:43,08 for other things for rent control for a municipal bank to restructure the B.N. 487 00:47:43,09 --> 00:47:47,33 Own tax so that it puts the burden of taxation not on the smallest and the most 488 00:47:47,34 --> 00:47:54,27 troubling businesses but on the giant businesses and the financial rescue Thank 489 00:47:54,28 --> 00:48:01,06 you OK 490 00:48:01,22 --> 00:48:06,64 But when you talk about government you know taxing big business to subsidize small 491 00:48:06,65 --> 00:48:11,43 business again people will tell you that's you know that's crazy socialist talk 492 00:48:11,62 --> 00:48:13,93 government cannot support a business this is 493 00:48:13,94 --> 00:48:20,38 a free market. Brothers and 494 00:48:20,39 --> 00:48:26,57 Sisters remind them of the tens of billions of dollars that the state has given 495 00:48:26,58 --> 00:48:32,21 away to the Boeing C.E.O.'s over decades Thank you 496 00:48:32,22 --> 00:48:40,15 OK 497 00:48:40,16 --> 00:48:42,13 Remind them that they called 498 00:48:42,25 --> 00:48:48,83 a special session in Olympia to give Boeing does the largest single corporate 499 00:48:48,90 --> 00:48:50,09 handout in U.S. 500 00:48:50,13 --> 00:48:56,42 History you oak. 501 00:48:59,64 --> 00:49:06,59 OK. What has happened so far is exciting to see Doc 502 00:49:06,60 --> 00:49:08,14 initiated has been 503 00:49:08,15 --> 00:49:14,63 a shot in the arm. For workers everywhere the mayor's executive 504 00:49:14,64 --> 00:49:20,72 order to have you know give sixteen dollars an hour fifteen dollars an hour for all 505 00:49:20,88 --> 00:49:22,44 city employees is 506 00:49:22,45 --> 00:49:29,09 a welcome step but it is really important for us in this room to draw out the 507 00:49:29,10 --> 00:49:35,55 correct political lessons and not be taken in by the corporate narrative none of 508 00:49:35,56 --> 00:49:42,00 this would have happened in the first place if workers had not moved in to struggle 509 00:49:42,41 --> 00:49:46,78 forcing the political establishment to pay heed to the our demands. 510 00:49:49,01 --> 00:49:55,03 Oh OK. 511 00:49:56,50 --> 00:50:00,63 And if workers had not chosen to go out into 512 00:50:00,64 --> 00:50:07,61 a grassroots campaign to bring in White of their own into city hall we did not 513 00:50:07,62 --> 00:50:14,25 get this from the kindness of business people. I am 514 00:50:14,27 --> 00:50:19,86 serving on the mayor's committee and I love said before I will do my best to 515 00:50:19,87 --> 00:50:26,48 represent the interests of Seattle's working people but this is not the time to let 516 00:50:26,49 --> 00:50:28,51 up it would be 517 00:50:28,52 --> 00:50:33,90 a big mistake to say oh the city government officials will take care of this for us 518 00:50:33,90 --> 00:50:40,08 . Some of the same businesses that beggarly opposed the fifteen dollars an hour 519 00:50:40,09 --> 00:50:46,42 initiative and. Find themselves on this dummy do you expect them to fight for you 520 00:50:46,43 --> 00:50:50,42 and for fifteen. And 521 00:50:50,92 --> 00:50:55,33 a simple question is if they are so committed to fifteen in Seattle Why don't they 522 00:50:55,34 --> 00:50:57,92 drop the lawsuit against the tax drop one 523 00:50:58,49 --> 00:51:05,87 thank 524 00:51:05,88 --> 00:51:12,65 you. If we don't mobilize our forces 525 00:51:13,45 --> 00:51:20,05 in this historic opportunity that has been handed down to us then it will be 526 00:51:20,21 --> 00:51:25,48 a betrayal of our own responsibility we will not get what we are fighting for 527 00:51:26,14 --> 00:51:26,85 history is 528 00:51:26,86 --> 00:51:37,51 a warning to many examples of opportunities lost for the working class and 529 00:51:37,78 --> 00:51:43,78 yes everybody who says the left needs to learn to work together they are absolutely 530 00:51:43,79 --> 00:51:48,32 correct but do you know what is the most important thing we need to do on the left 531 00:51:48,57 --> 00:51:54,56 in order to be working together that is to stand on apologetically for the 532 00:51:54,57 --> 00:51:59,90 interests of the working class Thank you 533 00:51:59,91 --> 00:52:06,04 thank 534 00:52:06,05 --> 00:52:12,81 you working together on the left also 535 00:52:12,82 --> 00:52:19,74 means. Breaking our ties from those who have betrayed us again and 536 00:52:19,75 --> 00:52:21,93 again and again you 537 00:52:21,94 --> 00:52:29,70 OK 538 00:52:30,24 --> 00:52:37,15 breaking our ties from the two big business parties. Who haven't stood up 539 00:52:37,16 --> 00:52:43,74 for us and have have been the leaders in 540 00:52:43,75 --> 00:52:49,32 carrying out this race to the bottom that's what me means to me for left to come 541 00:52:49,33 --> 00:52:51,20 together. The 542 00:52:51,21 --> 00:52:57,52 only. 543 00:52:59,56 --> 00:53:05,80 And you will hear a lot about me you will hear that you can be an activist and 544 00:53:05,81 --> 00:53:07,85 a legislator somehow becoming 545 00:53:07,86 --> 00:53:14,60 a legislator corrupt you automatically I think we have to understand yes there are 546 00:53:14,61 --> 00:53:21,17 great dangers everywhere and history is littered with countless examples of well 547 00:53:21,18 --> 00:53:27,36 meaning people who took on the center stage elected positions and got very easily 548 00:53:27,37 --> 00:53:33,78 co-opted and corrupted but co-optation corruption is not an automatic process it 549 00:53:33,79 --> 00:53:40,12 happens when we don't understand that we have to take our side very 550 00:53:40,13 --> 00:53:45,79 clearly it happens when you think that I can go to my office in City Hall and saw 551 00:53:45,80 --> 00:53:51,37 you go big business and working people it happens when you run campaigns that are 552 00:53:51,38 --> 00:53:56,27 not democratically organized campaigns for working people ordinary people don't 553 00:53:56,28 --> 00:54:01,71 have a voice. Brothers and sisters we have shown that you can run 554 00:54:01,95 --> 00:54:08,91 a truly democratic campaign that represents without hesitation without ambiguity 555 00:54:09,08 --> 00:54:14,73 our interests collectively and we can hold ourselves accountable to each other. 556 00:54:16,32 --> 00:54:22,84 Thank 557 00:54:22,85 --> 00:54:29,62 you the comeback but for 558 00:54:29,63 --> 00:54:36,18 that we need Democratic organizations of our own independent all big business 559 00:54:36,30 --> 00:54:42,75 and of the parties that represent them and building this movement is not just about 560 00:54:42,76 --> 00:54:46,18 fifteen it is about getting organized to begin 561 00:54:46,22 --> 00:54:52,18 a pushback against the decades of assault on our living standards against the 562 00:54:52,19 --> 00:54:57,45 impoverishment and disintegration of entire communities of the working class 563 00:54:58,78 --> 00:55:04,66 and when business and their political representatives say why are you so hung up on 564 00:55:04,67 --> 00:55:09,03 a number we should talk about comprehensive solutions like health care education 565 00:55:09,37 --> 00:55:13,05 tell them Don't worry fifteen is just the first one 566 00:55:13,33 --> 00:55:21,23 THANK 567 00:55:21,24 --> 00:55:28,03 YOU THANK YOU 568 00:55:28,04 --> 00:55:34,76 OK tell them once we win we will be back for you when the rest of our rights. 569 00:55:36,38 --> 00:55:42,80 Thank you OK I lost Lee I want to do my 570 00:55:42,81 --> 00:55:49,44 share. To go in tribute to our work in fifteen now I want to thank everybody 571 00:55:49,50 --> 00:55:54,41 individual energy Dushan who have endorsed our campaign and I've pledged to make 572 00:55:54,42 --> 00:56:00,87 this the top priority for yourselves in this year and I pledge to all 573 00:56:01,01 --> 00:56:07,64 fifty every month from my city council salary to fifteen now Dot are. 574 00:56:08,53 --> 00:56:11,51 That comes to fifteen thousand dollars 575 00:56:11,55 --> 00:56:20,45 a year. Thank 576 00:56:20,46 --> 00:56:25,00 you. THANK YOU 577 00:56:25,22 --> 00:56:31,36 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. 578 00:56:32,50 --> 00:56:33,70 Thank you. 579 00:56:39,48 --> 00:56:45,11 But my brothers and sisters I do not want any personal growth glory from this what 580 00:56:45,12 --> 00:56:51,39 I want you to do is to determine that you will fight with us every inch of the way 581 00:56:51,57 --> 00:56:55,95 not only for fifteen dollars but do generate 582 00:56:56,26 --> 00:57:00,80 a vibrant working class movement that is not going to go away this year but is 583 00:57:00,81 --> 00:57:06,06 going to build and build and build and become stronger every year that passes by 584 00:57:06,47 --> 00:57:10,43 and that you will promise me that if you run into somebody with 585 00:57:10,44 --> 00:57:13,68 a six figure salary I asked them to donate twelve fifty 586 00:57:13,69 --> 00:57:19,89 a month just enough thank. 587 00:57:21,03 --> 00:57:21,28 You. 588 00:57:23,62 --> 00:57:34,37 Thank 589 00:57:34,37 --> 00:57:34,37 .